On a problem by V. A. Toponogov (Q2880496)

In the 1970th, V. A. Toponogov posed the following problem: Let \(D=\mathbb R \times [0,+\infty)\) and let a differentiable function \(f: D\to \mathbb R\) be such that \(f(x,0)=0\) for all \(x\in\mathbb R\) and \(| \partial f/\partial y (x,y)| \leq | \partial f/\partial x (x,y)| \) for \((x,y)\in D\). Prove that \(f(x,y)=0\) for all \((x,y)\in D\).NEWLINENEWLINEThe author gives a positive answer to this problem and proposes a natural generalization (for the case of the globally hyperbolic space-time) of the obtained result. This generalization is also a generalization of a structural theorem published in [\textit{R. Geroch}, J. Math. Phys. 11, No. 2, 437--449 (1970; Zbl 0189.27602)].